MLB 2K5 Vs. MVP 2005

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Which ballgame deserves to be king of the diamond?

By Hilary Goldstein

Each March I head to the store and stock up on sunflower seeds. Along with an increase in my sodium intake, March brings baseball games from Visual Concepts, EA and several first-party companies. Just as inevitable as the Cubs coming up short, each year brings about a debate as to which baseball game is best.

While it could be argued that Sony and Nintendo's first-party games should be included in the mix, the reasons they aren't comes in two parts. One: those games aren't out yet, and two: this is a comparison of cross-platform titles only. So while MLB 2005 and Nintendo Pennant Chase Baseball may be fine in their own right, today they're not our focus. Instead, it's the age-old battle between Visual Concepts and EA.

Having played both MLB 2K5 and MVP 2005 extensively, it's time to pit these two titans to see which comes out on top.

Vital Stats - MLB 2K5

1-2 Players

Widescreen 480p

5.1 Dolby Digital (Xbox) DPL II (PS2)

Custom Soundtracks

Online leagues/scoreboards

Vital Stats - MVP 2005

1-2 Players

Widescreen 720p (Xbox)

5.1 Dolby Digital (Xbox) DPL II (PS2)

No Custom Soundtracks

Online leagues

Presentation

MLB 2K5

MVP 2005

Each game begins with a sweeping intro of the stadium. In-game treats include perfectly-replicated ESPN Sunday Night Baseball overlays, Web Gem replays, and some of the most accurate stadiums in any ballgame to date. There are cut-scenes of the crowd, trivia challenges between innings and Joe Morgan and Jon Miller providing commentary.

There's not a whole lot of fluff here, but EA provides your standard videogame baseball fare. Expect good replays, cut-scenes of pensive pitchers on the mound and enjoy your coach arguing with the ump.

Bottom Line: Holy Moses! The presentation is unreal.

Bottom Line: There's not a lot to write home about, unless your mother enjoys postcards packed with tales of mediocrity.

Winner

Graphics

MLB 2K5

MVP 2005

There's no denying the beauty of the stadiums of the clear, crisp look of the players. But it's not all beauty here. The animations, particularly in the infield, need a lot of work and though some faces look very realistic, others look almost comedic. If the stadiums were all that mattered, this may be the greatest-looking game ever. Of course, there's a lot more to graphics than just visual pop.

The stadiums look decent, but there are a lot of re-used player faces. However, there's also animated faces that allow for some great expressions. Where MVP 2005 kicks butt is with animations. The mo-cap is as good as it gets and everything looks fluid and natural and lifelike when in motion.

Bottom Line: Looks good in still life, but in motion it's just not as sweet or realistic as it needs to be.

Bottom Line: It lacks the eye-candy of MLB 2K5, but those animations are so incredible, it makes the game come to life. And that's really what's important. It makes up for any ugliness with the most realistic baseball animations ever offered.

Winner

Audio

MLB 2K5

MVP 2005

There's no better real-life duo than Joe Morgan and Jon Miller. These two pros have been partnered together for more than 15 years and it shows. With a natural flow, this is one of the more organic commentary tracks in any sports game. Add to this player-specific heckles and great 5.1 Surround Sound and it's clear that MLB 2K5 brought its audio A-game this season.

It's always a bad sign when you can't even remember who provides the commentary for a sports game. The crack of the bat, the rising cheer of the crowd, and the screams of the umpire all sound great, but none of it will blow you away.